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thestarman's review against another edition
3.0
A different kind of post-apoc story. Hard to rate, but it was good without ever being truly exciting.
Hmmm, maybe that was the point.
It's a slower, more realistic tale than most mild dystopias out there. Not a single, for better or worse. Cue the goat milking and herb gathering!
SUMMARY: A few years after a nebulous Apocalypse, 13 or 14-year-old Neena survives pioneer-style with her Aunt Maura in a remote setting. Ted (Maura's long-lost brother) shows up. Slowly, things start to change. In between, there's a lot of chores, plant naming,. Inserted are a few wee scraps about the past apocalypse -- but not enough detail to paint a good picture.
Oh, and who is this mysterious, scarred 'Barterman,' and what part will he play in all this? And is that little over the hill dangerous, or what?
Ah. Read and see.
There's an interesting and pretty strong protagonist, but in truth, there's only the thinnest of stories here. I could tell the whole story in about 35 seconds.
But forget that. I'm not actually complaining. This book was a nice change-of-pace. It's well written (and sometimes quasi- or actually poetic), in spite of an ending that I've seen too many times in tales of this sort (perhaps it was more novel when originally published c. 1988?)
TRUTH IN COVER ART:
PASS (51%):
This older cover is faithful to the essence of the story -- but where is the long flaming red hair? And there are no in the book. Otherwise, the above scene is OK, if you remove the scorched trees.
FAIL (22%):
(correct hair, everything else wrong).
VERDICT: Around 3 stars (2-star story, 4-star writing). Pretty good for an older book. One of the rarer slow-paced post-apocalyptic novels out there. Could've been 4 stars with higher stakes, intrigue, or world-building, but worth a look if you dig all things post-apoc, or like small "slice of life" tales.
TRIGGER STUFF/PARENTS & PRUDES: It's pretty mild compared to most Apocalyptic novels, though.
Hmmm, maybe that was the point.
It's a slower, more realistic tale than most mild dystopias out there. Not a single
Spoiler
zombieSUMMARY: A few years after a nebulous Apocalypse, 13 or 14-year-old Neena survives pioneer-style with her Aunt Maura in a remote setting. Ted (Maura's long-lost brother) shows up. Slowly, things start to change. In between, there's a lot of chores, plant naming,
Spoiler
book & poetry reading, and trading stuff with neighborsOh, and who is this mysterious, scarred 'Barterman,' and what part will he play in all this? And is that little
Spoiler
cultAh. Read and see.
There's an interesting and pretty strong protagonist, but in truth, there's only the thinnest of stories here. I could tell the whole story in about 35 seconds.
But forget that. I'm not actually complaining. This book was a nice change-of-pace. It's well written (and sometimes quasi- or actually poetic), in spite of an ending that I've seen too many times in tales of this sort (perhaps it was more novel when originally published c. 1988?)
TRUTH IN COVER ART:
PASS (51%):
This older cover is faithful to the essence of the story -- but where is the long flaming red hair? And there are no
Spoiler
magically glowing eyesFAIL (22%):
(correct hair, everything else wrong).
VERDICT: Around 3 stars (2-star story, 4-star writing). Pretty good for an older book. One of the rarer slow-paced post-apocalyptic novels out there. Could've been 4 stars with higher stakes, intrigue, or world-building, but worth a look if you dig all things post-apoc, or like small "slice of life" tales.
TRIGGER STUFF/PARENTS & PRUDES:
Spoiler
Pervy male, some sci-fi violence, death, and dead bodies.
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